In the latest installment of San Diego Public Library’s Great American Writers Series, journalist and author James Fallows will discuss his new book, “Blind into Baghdad: America’s War in Iraq,” at the Point Loma branch, 3701 Voltaire St. The event is co-hosted by City Club of San Diego and will take place Tuesday, Sept. 19, at 7:30 p.m.
Fallows has worked with The Atlantic Monthly for more than 25 years and is now a national correspondent for the magazine. He has written several books including “Looking at the Sun: The Rise of the New East Asian Economic and Political System,” “Breaking the News: How the Media Undermine American Democracy” and “Free Flight: Inventing the Future of Travel.”
In his newest work, Fallows tracks the development of the war in Iraq and illustrates how many anticipated difficulties were ignored by the Bush administration, according to Fallows’ website.
Fallows is the 45th writer to participate in the long-standing series that began in 1999, and was designed to bring authors and the public together. Since its inception, the “Great American Writers Series” has been host to critically acclaimed authors, such as Doris Kearns Goodwin, Arthur Schlesinger Jr. and Richard Rodriguez. No author has ever been paid to speak at the series, according to City Club of San Diego President George Mitrovich
“It’s about getting people to think about our country, our world and our city,” said Mitrovich. “People aren’t doing that and they have got to think about serious issues that matter.”
It has been City Club’s goal to act as a public forum in San Diego, said Mitrovich. The club has heard many great authors and public figures speak at their events, from President Jimmy Carter to House Speaker Newt Gingrich. While the group is dedicated to the discussion of public issues, it does not have any partisan associations or political affiliations, said Mitrovich.
“I think it’s critical to any democratic society “¦ that we’re committed to the dialogue of democracy,” he added.
To RSVP for the event, email [email protected] or call City Club of San Diego at (619) 687-3580.